In India, Pastor Arthur Selvaraj was taken away by police as he preached online to his congregation. We’ve also had reports of this happening to churches holding online services in China.
In Pakistan, Christians and Hindus are going hungry after being denied food aid – simply because of their faith.
In central Nigeria, armed assailants opened fire on Rev Canon Bayo James Famonure and his family while they were praying in the evening in their living room – despite the state-wide coronavirus-related lockdown.
Your gift of £49 will help us speak up for these vulnerable faith groups during the pandemic and beyond.
Many authoritarian governments will attempt to exploit this crisis to consolidate power, or to intensify or legitimise crackdowns. We are already seeing this. They hope that the world will be so focused on the impact of the pandemic that their unjust actions will go unnoticed. They are hoping for our silence.
But we haven’t forgotten God’s injunction to “speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute” (Proverbs 31: 8), and so we won’t be silent.
Will you make a gift today and join with us in speaking out against injustice and violence at this time of crisis, and beyond?
Your giving enables us to take action against such injustices, such as lobbying to ensure religious minorities receive emergency aid, or can access water services so they can carry out basic hygiene practices to protect them against the coronavirus.
You will also help us to continue speaking up for people like Pastors Nadarkhani and Haghnejad, who were not granted temporary release despite the spread of coronavirus within Iran’s prison system.
We will not allow their suffering to go unnoticed and their voices to be silenced in the midst of the pandemic.
Thank you so much for your support.
Yours as ever in Christ,
Mervyn Thomas CMG
Founder and Chief Executive
P.S. Thank you for prayerfully considering giving to CSW at this time. I am truly grateful for your partnership, gifts and prayers.
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